“IT’S WAR, DON’T COMPLAIN!”

ENQUIRIES INTO AFRICAN MEDICAL

SERVICES DURING WORLD WAR 1

DR ANNE SAMSON, 24 MARCH 2018

http://samilitaryhistory.org/vol042jm.html

Feeding Carriers

Pike Report: 2 parts(avail: http://gweaa.com/home/medical-project/medical-archive/)

German East Africa (Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi)Report dated 18 January 1918 covering 6 December 1917

War zone

British East Africa (Kenya and Uganda)Report dated 18 January 1918 covering 6 December 1917

Not a war zone; comments on health of Nairobi and Mombasa towns

Background

Colonel Hedley John Kirkpatrick, Commander of 9SAI in 2nd Division (Gen van Deventer)

Enquiry Jan-March 1917 (General Reginald Hoskins, CiC)

Surgeon General William Pike, Army Medical Services, and Lt Col Andrew Balfour, Royal

Army Medical Corps

• 11 July 1917 receive order to investigate medical conditions in East Africa

• 21 July 1917 sailed from England

• 24 August 1917 arrived at Dar-es-Salaam, German East Africa for tour of war zone

• 6 December 1917 arrived Mombasa, British East Africa for tour of non-war zone

• 20 January 1918 complete report into British East Africa

Captain HL Duke, Uganda Medical Service (bacteriologist)

• 10 December 1917, assumes command of Bombo Hospital and outlying areas

• 17 December 1917 Pike hospital inspection, immediate arrest and release

• 21 March 1918, Court of Enquiry, Brig-Gen HL Llewellyn, Commandant KAR

• 31 October 1918, CO/WO ‘close’ file

• April 1919, OBE award

Captain OAR Berkeley-Hill, Indian Medical Service (psychoanalyst)

• 7 January 1918, letter to WO

• 3 July 1918, Hill fit enough to travel to EA for Court of Enquiry

• 11 October 1919 WO enquiry verdict sent to IO

Kirkpatrick Complaint

Conditions German East Africa Feb-Oct 1916Enquiry Jan-March 1917

Duke Court of Enquiry

General Officer Commanding, EAFBombo, 1918

Berkeley-Hill Enquiry

Invalided to UK, March 1917Dar es Salaam, August-September 1918

Where Pike visitedBorder

a

German East Africa (24 August – 5 December 1917)

Tanga, Dar-es-Salaam, Kilwa Kisiwani, Kilwa Kivinji, Lindi,

Quarantine Island, Kurasini, Tabora, Itigi, Dodoma, Iringa,

Termagwe, Kilossa, Ruaha, Mfrisi, Morogoro, Rufiji, Mikesse,

Mpangas, Summit, Zanzibar, Mpara, Mingoyo, Chirimake,

N’jangao, Mtama, Mahiwa, Mtandawala, Mnero, Nanganachi,

Simbasi,

British East Africa (6 December 1917 – 18 Jan 1918)

Mombasa, Nairobi, Kisumu, Lake Victoria, Entebbe, Bombo,

Kampala, Jinja, Kericho, Nakuru, Naivasha, Tanga, Voi

Medical

structure

SanitationMarkets

The MacKinnon Market – meat, European

The Piggott Market - fruit and vegetables, Locals

Fish Market is situated on the cliff

Fish-drying shed

Roof cover

Flooring

Slaughter House

Latrines

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/a3/e6/5b/a3e65bd398acc86db92591383a00a181.jpg

https://www.flickr.com/photos/61235405@N00/6017314389

https://kaylabrisbin.wordpress.com/2013/12/02/thankful/

Medical TreatmentGerman field ambulance

http://www.histarmar.com.ar/ArchivoFotosGral-

2/VaporesSACarrioin/101.JPG

http://www.forumeerstewereldoorlog.nl/viewtopic.php?t=332

Stretcher Bearers, 3 KAR

Rations

PREPARATION AND COOKING OF FOOD – these are

only secondary in importance to the provision of a good

dietary. Bad cooking and monotony in the preparation of

food account for much sickness and lessen the resisting

power of the body. In the list of measures taken to combat

disease good feeding undoubtedly holds a very high place

and a man is not well fed unless his food is properly

cooked. If this is true of the European it is still more true of

the Indian and the African. Although the dietary of the last

named is simple it requires most careful preparation,

otherwise it is apt to disorder his digestion, irritate his

bowel and pave the way for diarrhoea and dysentery.

Those who have suffered chiefly from defective cooking are

the men who have to be constantly on the move, namely

Motor Transport drivers and the Carriers, and every effort

should be made to improve their lot in this particular. A

great deal still requires to be done in the case of the Motor

Transport but the Military Labour Bureau has taken

up the question of cooking for the carriers and the

conditions have been revolutionised. We were much

struck by the admirable arrangements made in

most of the Carrier Camps and Depots and it was

evident that the porters appreciated what had been

done for them in this respect.

Schutztruppe in German East Africa –

German Federal Archive Bild 134-C0265

Harry Fecitt

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/9a/db/f2/9adbf200abf89deef79c661cdadeadea.jpg

http://inkosana.co.za/trans-africa-adventure/

EUROPEAN AND CAPE COLOURED CORPS

1 lb fresh or frozen meat, or 1 lb preserved meat or 1 lb salt meat.

1 ¼ lb bread or 1 lb Biscuits, or 1 lb flour (atta) with 1/3 oz baking

powder.

5/8 oz tea.

¼ lb Jam.

3 oz Sugar (4 oz for all Europeans beyond rail-head, GRO 665D/28/7/16).

½ oz Salt

1/36 oz Pepper

1/50 oz Mustard

½ lb Fresh vegetables or 2 oz dried vegetables.

1/320 galls Lime juice } At the discretion of GOC areas on

1/64 galls Rum } medical recommendation

2 oz Tobacco weekly (Lady nurses get 100 cigarettes per month in lieu).

2 boxes matches weekly } Vide GRO 89, dated 7/3/16

1 piece soap per 7 days }

8 oz Condensed milk per day to Lady Nurses (GRO 433D/29/5/16).

INDIAN TROOPS AND FOLLOWERS AND LOCAL INDIANS

Atta 1 ½ lb Ginger 1/3 oz Chillies 1/6 oz

* Fresh meat 4 oz Dhall 4 oz Tumeric 1/6 oz

Ghee 2 oz Garlic 1/6 oz Gur 1 oz

Salt ½ oz Potatoes 2 oz Fuel 1½ lbs

Tea 1/3 oz

* or 2 oz Milk in lieu to all non-beef eaters when proper meat is not available.

1 piece of soap per man per 7 days (GRO D/25/5/16).

2 oz Tobacco or 40 cigarettes and 2 boxes matches per man per week (GRO 931 and 936 dated 11 and

23/10/16).

4 oz Fresh vegetables to Indian Troops at Morogoro is sanctioned (GRO 388 dated 13/4/17).Bread in

lieu of atta or rice and flour has been sanctioned to Indians of Indian Stretcher Bearer Corps (GRO 275

dated 19/4/16).

SCALE OF RATIONS FOR AFRICAN TROOPS, ARAB

COMPANY AND GUN PORTERS AND STRETCHER BEARERS

1 lb Rice ½ lb Meat or ½ lb dates

½ oz Salt 2 oz Ghee

½ lb Mahindi Flour 8 oz potatoes or onions per man daily

1 piece soap per man per week

1 lb Dates and ½ lb beans will be issued in lieu of 1 lb rice twice a week

when available.

Atta will be issued in lieu of Mahindi flour to the Arab Company.

An issue of 1 ½ lbs firewood per man, to all Africans at Nairobi is

sanctioned (L of C order No 177 dated 8/4/16).

Arab rifles 1/3 oz Tea and 1 oz Sugar (vide GRO 203 dated 26/2/17).

SCALE OF RATIONS FOR CARRIERS

British Ranks and Goanese As for British Troops

Indians As for British Troops

Arabs, Swahilis and Somali clerks, headmen and Interpreters As for African Troops

Africans

1 ¼ Flour to flour eaters, or 1 ¼ lb rice to rice eaters ¼ lb Beans

½ lb Meat ½ oz Salt

For Carriers per man per day:

4 oz Potatoes or Bananas 2 oz Jaggery

2 oz Sim Sim oil or Ghee per man per day or 2 green cocoanuts per man per week

(GRO 1087D/22/11/16)

When meat not available then ½ lb dates in lieu meat, or ¼ lb biltong in lieu ½ lb meat or ½ lb beans

in lieu ½ lb meat (GRO 852 dated 15/9/16). ¼ lb Flour may be issued in lieu of ¼ lb beans to African

Carriers who are not bean eaters (GRO 142 dated 17/3/16).

A weekly issue of 100 lbs. Soap is authorised for each Carrier Depot (GRO 997 dated 25/10/16).

Note: Flour to be banana mealie, wimbe, or matama, according to the class of porters.

In exceptional cases money may be issued in lieu of rations, on a certificate from the Supply Transport

Officer that rations in kind have not been issued, the scale being 15 cents (p59) per man for a complete

ration, or 6 cents in lieu of meat only.

SCALE OF RATIONS FOR CAPE BOYS

½ lb Bread 3 oz Sugar

1 lb mealie meal 1 lb Meat

½ oz Salt 5/8 oz Tea or 1 oz Coffee

2 oz potatoes or green vegetables in lieu is sanctioned

Soap 1 piece per man weekly.

Note: Somalies entertained by ADRS will draw Cape Boys rations with the following alterations:-

1 lb rice in lieu of 1 lb mealie meal

2 oz Ghee African in lieu ½ lb bread

AUTHORISED SCALE FOR ALL GOLD COAST, NIGERIANS AND OTHER WEST

AFRICAN TROOPS

Rice 1lb 2 oz Biscuits 4 oz or Mealie Meal 6 oz in lieu

Fresh meat 8 oz Sugar 2 oz

Chillies 1/3 oz Cocoa or Tea or Coffee 1/3 oz

Salt 1 oz Palm or other cooking oils 2 oz

Soap 1 piece per man, per week

SCALE OF RATIONS FOR WEST INDIA REGIMENT

Bread, biscuits or equivalents ½ lb Rice 1 lb

Meat ½ lb Sugar 3 oz

Salt ½ oz Jam or equivalents 2 oz

Tea 5/8 oz Condensed milk 2 oz

Lime juice 1/10 gill (1/2 oz)

Soap 1 piece per man per week

(GRO 696 dated 7/8/16)

1/2 Bn British WI Regt is authorised to draw European scale of rations (GRO 1131 dated 4/12/16)

CHINESE

Flour or Bread ½ lb Rice 1 lb

Salt 1 lb Fresh Vegetables 8 oz

Beans 4 oz Sugar 1 oz

Tea ½ oz Meat or dried Fish or Pork 10 oz

Cooking Oil ½ oz Fuel 3 lb

http://www.old-

print.com/cgi-

bin/item/P2511917001/searc

h/23%2DPrint%2D1917%2D

Cocoanut%2DMilk%2DAfric

a%2DSoldiers%2DWar%2D

Hoskins%2DDeventer%2D0

01P251%2DOld%2DOrigina

l

Animals3 major diseases: trypanosomiasis, horse sickness and East Coast fever of cattle.

Rations

Horses – 12 lb grain, ½ oz Salt, 12 lb fodder Ponies – 10 lb grain, ½ oz Salt, 12 lb fodder

Battery Mules, 1st Class – 9 lb, ½ oz Salt, 10 lb fodder Mules 2nd class – 7 lb grain, 1 oz Salt, 8 lb fodder

Local Mules – 6 lb grain, ½ oz Salt, 8 lb fodder Donkeys – 4 lb grain, ½ oz Salt

Trek Oxen – 2 oz Salt Riding Camels – 10 lb grain, 2 oz Salt, 12 lb fodder

Baggage Camels – 2 oz Salt

Gun and ammunition column oxen will receive 1 oz Salt and in addition, when marching, 4 lb grain.

Note: Fodder will be issued only when available; all animals will have to be grazed. Gun and ammunition column oxen will

receive 1 oz Salt and in addition, when marching, 4 lb grain.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/af/84/7a/af847a21fd2a83e8b29110cadf13e35a.jpg

Further reading

Doctor memoirs

17 Letters to Tatham – Ann Crichton-Harris

On call in Africa – Norman Parsons Jewell

Marching on Tanga – Francis Brett Young

Campaign history

Tip and Run – Edward Paice

Forgotten Front – Ross Anderson

Enquiries

Kirkpatrick – CO 551/101

Pike Report –WO 141/31 - http://gweaa.com/home/medical-project/medical-archive/

Hill Enquiry –WO 141/30

Duke Enquiry –WO 141/35